Champions League: Playoffs continue on Wednesday

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Neymar's goal against Toulouse was the Brazilian's 27th goal of the season for PSG

There are many Madrid fans that have shown their discontent in their teams underwhelming and lackluster displays this season, with manager Zinedine Zidane coming under intense scrutiny especially for his side's results in the Primera División.

But Madrid coach Zidane is reluctant join in with that excitement, instead stressing the importance of the team effort, and not just those marquee players.

In Madrid's last four LaLiga matches, nine different goal-scorers have found the net 18 times, for the best attacking return in any of Europe's top leagues.

Real and PSG meet at the Bernabeu in the first leg of the last 16 before the return at the Parc des Princes on March 6.

Last season Real became the first team to retain the Champions League and won La Liga for the first time since 2012.

The famous Santiago Bernabeu stadium will host Unai Emery's PSG in UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg. I don't think so.

"Our coach is very close to the players, he has helped us a lot and continues to help us", said the Brazilian. "Honestly, I would have no problem playing for Barcelona", Di Maria told French magazine So Foot, as reported by Marca. The Portuguese has 43 goals in his last 43 appearances in the knockout phase.

Juventus Stalwart Giorgio Chiellini believes a certain English star is on the same level as FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Real Madrid'sCristiano Ronaldo. "He handles the pressure and responds on the field", he said.

Marcelo will be coming up against his worldwide teammate Neymar, who he claimed ahead of the game in an interview with Brazilian television would "one day play for Real Madrid".

That was after he gave an interview to Brazilian television saying that his global colleague would one day play for the Spanish giants.

Reigning European champions Real (647.6 million euros) made nearly 200 million euros more in turnover than PSG (486.2 million) past year, according to Deloitte.

PSG's front three of Neymar, Mbappe and Edinson Cavani have scored 70 goals between them, compared to 38 for Real's "BBC" of Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.

PSG travelled without veteran midfielder Thiago Motta, meaning recent signing Lassana Diarra is tipped to start against his old club. The only right-back available to the reigning champions is Achraf Hakimi.

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